Türkiye’s FM Fidan Applauds President Masoud Barzani and PM Masrour Barzani for Visionary Leadership in Kurdistan
Fidan also reaffirmed the respect Ankara holds for President Masoud Barzani, underlining the enduring and constructive relations built over years of cooperation.
By Dler Mohammed
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – “A place where no one is hostile to each other, where everyone wants to serve – that’s the place we want.” These were the words of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan as he praised the leadership of Kurdish President Masoud Barzani and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, expressing Türkiye’s appreciation for their efforts to foster peace and development in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Fidan’s comments came during an exclusive interview with Iraqi UTV, later reported by Türkiye Today Newsletters, in which he discussed regional security, Iraq-Türkiye relations, and the role of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in promoting stability.
The Turkish foreign minister highlighted the “strong, historical, and intertwined” ties between Türkiye and Iraq, describing the two nations as deeply connected by geography, culture, and shared interests. Within this context, Fidan reserved special praise for the Kurdish leadership in Erbil, saying Prime Minister Masrour Barzani is “struggling with how to solve the infrastructure and superstructure problems in the Kurdish region,” noting that such efforts bring satisfaction to Türkiye.
“We are happy when we see leaders who are focused on serving their people,” Fidan said, drawing a clear contrast with the situation in Sulaymaniyah, where he expressed concern over the alleged presence of terrorist groups.
Fidan also reaffirmed the respect Ankara holds for President Masoud Barzani, underlining the enduring and constructive relations built over years of cooperation. He emphasized that Türkiye maintains open channels with all political entities in Iraq regardless of sect or ethnicity, echoing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s long-standing policy of neutrality in sectarian divisions.
On security matters, Fidan called on Iraq to demonstrate the same level of commitment in combating the PKK terrorist organization as it did in the fight against Daesh. He applauded Iraq’s recent legal recognition of the PKK as a national security threat and urged decisive action against the group, particularly in regions like Sinjar.
“The PKK is not just Türkiye’s problem; it harms Iraq’s sovereignty and future,” Fidan said, accusing the group of drug trafficking and forced conscription. He stressed that eliminating the PKK’s presence would benefit both Iraqi security and regional peace.
Despite the pressing security challenges, Fidan concluded on a hopeful note, advocating for a united approach among Iraq’s diverse communities, including full rights for the Turkmen population, and deeper collaboration between Iraq and Syria on shared goals like territorial integrity and counterterrorism.
The interview reflected a broader vision for stability, where Türkiye views a peaceful, cooperative Iraqi Kurdistan – under leaders like Masoud and Masrour Barzani – as essential to the region’s progress.
